Veterinarians pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,510 a year or less, while the top 10% make $220,150 or more. The middle half of veterinarians in Columbia earn between $101,640 and $164,980.
- $78K10th
- $102K25th
- $130KMedian
- $165K75th
- $220K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $139,410 | $11,618 | $67.02 |
| Median | $129,960 | $10,830 | $62.48 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $101,640 | $8,470 | $48.87 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $164,980 | $13,748 | $79.32 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Veterinarians pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Veterinarians in Columbia earn 10% more than the South Carolina average ($126,280) and about the same as the U.S. average ($142,680). At the median the gap is -0% against the U.S. median of $130,100.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $139,410 | $129,960 | $77,510 | $220,150 | 210 |
| South Carolina | $126,280 | $122,130 | $48,140 | $200,860 | 1,380 |
| United States | $142,680 | $130,100 | $73,920 | $215,700 | 83,900 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Veterinarians salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $139,410, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $100,255 a year, or $8,355 a month and $3,856 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for veterinarians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $139,410 buys what about $148,844 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 1.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Veterinarians salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 2nd of 6 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Myrtle Beach pays the most ($147,010).
- Myrtle Beach$147,010
- Columbia$139,410
- Greenville$125,860
- Spartanburg$125,200
- Charleston$124,830
- Hilton Head Island$116,410
Highest-paying cities for veterinarians
Anchorage, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($215,060).
- Anchorage, AK$215,060
- San Francisco, CA$195,160
- Tucson, AZ$193,390
- San Jose, CA$192,030
- Phoenix, AZ$186,840
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Veterinarians salary in Columbia: questions
How much do veterinarians make an hour in Columbia?
$67.02 an hour on average, and $62.48 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level veterinarians salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,510 a year and the 25th percentile is $101,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the veterinarians take-home pay in Columbia?
About $100,255 a year ($8,355 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $139,410.
Do veterinarians earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($142,680).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1131; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.00, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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